Giant

Based on Edna Ferber's bestselling novel, Giant stars Elizabeth Taylor as the spoiled daughter of a wealthy Maryland family. She is courted by handsome Texas ranch owner Rock Hudson and by dirt-poor ranch hand James Dean, but it is Hudson who wins out. When Dean strikes oil, he uses the leverage of his wealth to get even with Hudson, buying off all the surrounding land as he builds up his "black gold" empire. Many years pass: Hudson, possessed of the inbred prejudices common to many of his fellow Texans, virtually disowns his son Dennis Hopper when the boy marries Mexican Elsa Cardenas. Meanwhile, Hudson's daughter Carroll Baker becomes the semi-mistress of aging millionaire Dean, who uses this relationship as another revenge tactic against Hudson. When Dean insults Hopper's Mexican wife, Hopper slugs him, only to be beaten up by Dean's henchmen; dad Hudson, finally seeing the error of his ways, rushes to Hopper's defense, publicly humiliating Dean. In a climactic confrontation with a racist restaurant owner, Hudson proves to his proud wife Taylor that he has now shed himself of all prejudice towards his Mexican daughter-in-law and mixed-blood grandchildren. Nominated for ten Academy Awards, Giant earned but one statuette, for George Stevens' direction. This was James Dean's last film; his voice is dubbed in several scenes by his good friend, actor Nick Adams.